Chương 467: Chapter 462 - Obligatory routines

Scarlett, Evelyne, and Lady Withersworth were led into the palace by their own attendant. The day's schedule was packed. It was supposed to begin with a more casual reception where most of the attendees would be allowed to mingle and socialise until noon, after which the proper ceremonies would begin. From there, they would be guided to the Chamber of Elysia, where the formal rites and declarations before the emperor would take place, followed by a meal and then the actual establishment of the Empyreal Barrier.

Once that was finished, there would be another reception before people were free to leave, though there was also supposed to be a smaller gathering of the Imperial Diet and several of the court's officials during the evening for those who wished to attend. To Scarlett, attending all of that in order sounded like little less than torture. It didn't help that her own schedule would be significantly more complicated than the official one. But she had braced herself for this for weeks now. She was mentally prepared.

It was just one day, and she had sworn to Rosa, among others, that she would allow herself a proper night of rest once this was over. She was almost looking forward to it. They were guided through polished corridors lined with banners and guarded by Palace Guards in red capes, making their way deeper into the palace before eventually emerging into an enclosed garden so vast it felt less like a chamber and more like a city square brought indoors.

Terraces of polished red granite unfolded at staggered heights beneath a bronze-red vaulted ceiling, joined by broad arched stairways and edged with low marble balustrades, potted trees, fountains, and beds of flowering plants. Nobles and officials already filled much of the space, their conversations blending with the soft rush of water and the measured tread of servants moving between them with trays, while beyond the far wall of glass, Rellaria Lake stretched out with Beld Thylelion still visible on its waters.

Rosalind's Garden. As her gaze roamed over the terraces and the many nobles who'd travelled to the capital despite so many of them ruling fiefs that were still recovering from attacks or dealing with their aftermath, she couldn't help but think back to the last time she had visited this place after the Elysian Proclamation. A lot had changed since then. At the time, she had managed to turn herself into a social pariah with a single sentence.

In the eyes of everybody here, that had probably been the moment they decided this minor baroness would never make any real mark in noble society again. Yet here she was, again. And if Lady Withersworth was to be believed, there likely wasn't a single person here who hadn't had Scarlett's name pass their lips at least once in the last week. For some, she had made a name for herself through the disproportionate amount of relief she had provided to those affected by the Tribe's attacks.

For others, she had been someone worth watching ever since the incident with Anguish's Citadel. But for most, it was probably simply that they had sensed the current moving through certain noble circles. Lady Withersworth hadn't made any official announcements on Scarlett's behalf, but she had pulled favours and paid visits to almost every high-ranking noble currently in the city over the past few days. Frankly, the woman's reach was impressive, especially when she was supposedly also 'just' a baroness.

Scarlett wouldn't have managed to approach even half of those people if she had tried arranging things by herself. For not the first time, she was grateful that Lady Withersworth had decided to lend their barony as much help as she had. Speaking of.

"Well then, dears," Lady Withersworth said with a smile, "we have much to do and many people to charm, and I see no reason to delay the inevitable. I believe I will go find my husband and children before things grow too rowdy, though. Evelyne, would you like to join me?"

"If you don't mind."

"Of course not." The older noblewoman laid a hand lightly on Evelyne's shoulder as she drew her closer, then looked to Scarlett.

"I assume you have your own business you want to get to?" Scarlett dipped her head.

"Yes."

"Then we can reconvene later."

"That we can."

"Good luck, Scarlett," Evelyne said.

"You as well," Scarlett replied. The younger woman studied her, then smiled faintly.

"And try not to cause any large disasters or other incidents." Scarlett was quiet for a moment. Evelyne blinked, and her expression immediately turned more serious.

"Scarlett, no." Scarlett frowned slightly, then lifted one hand.

"Do not worry. I have no intention of giving anyone cause for alarm. I can assure you that no one would prefer it more than me if this day passed without any major complications." She didn't have the highest hopes that things would be that simple, but a woman could dream. Evelyne's gaze lingered on her with a trace of suspicion, but eventually it eased back into a small smile as she nodded.

"Then we'll speak later." With that, she and Lady Withersworth made their way towards a short arched bridge that connected this terrace to the next, descending towards a lower stretch of the garden while speaking quietly with each other. Scarlett turned to the attendant who had guided them here. The young woman curtsied with practised precision.

"Is there anything else you require, my lady?"

"Do you know when the Followers of Ittar's delegation will arrive?" The attendant lowered her head.

"I am afraid I do not, my lady. If you wish, I can inquire on your behalf."

"No, that will not be necessary." Scarlett motioned lightly with one hand.

"You may take your leave. I will not be requiring your assistance any further."

"As you wish, my lady. Please inform one of the palace attendants if you require anything." The woman curtsied again, then withdrew through the entrance they had arrived from. Scarlett walked to the edge of the terrace, resting her hands on the carved balustrade as she took in Rosalind's Garden again. Her eyes moved over the layered terraces and the gathering of faces already spread across them.

There were many she recognised, including several nobles she had met with over the past few days and a handful she had worked with in the past. She held back a sigh. On similar occasions before, she had made do with interacting with as few people as possible, or letting someone like Lady Withersworth handle most of the talking. Today, that wasn't an option. Since they would be relying on several of the more influential names present, there were expectations of basic courtesy placed on Scarlett.

She didn't have much choice but to play along and socialise with as many relevant people as possible, just as Lady Withersworth and Evelyne would be doing. The annoying thing was that she needed to get as much of it done as quickly as possible if she didn't want it bleeding into her other plans for the day and increasing the risk of further complications. Unfortunate, but those were the terms she had accepted for today. There were several plans in motion here.

Gathering herself, Scarlett left the balustrade and crossed the terrace towards the first group of familiar nobles, who were conversing near a fountain surrounded by pale blue flowers and low, silver-leafed shrubs. For a while, she simply moved from one group to the next, maintaining the closest thing to polite ease she could manage as she spoke with nobles, officials, and lesser dignitaries about a wide range of topics both within and outside the areas Lady Withersworth had prepared her for.

She kept as careful a balance as she could, trying not to come off as too arrogant while also making it clear that she had no interest in ingratiating herself or bending over backward for anyone's approval. If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. Most of those she spoke with had at least some familiarity with her recent efforts and achievements.

There were certainly a few pointed remarks from some who didn't like her too much, but none went so far as to be openly rude. Not this early in the day. In fact, Scarlett was almost surprised by how many seemed inclined to go in the opposite direction. This was especially true among a certain subset of young bachelors who were a touch too attentive for her liking.

She assumed they were people who had heard rumours about her relationship with Marquis Delmon's family and had decided, correctly, that her betrothal to Sir Leon was only a mere formality at this point. None of them said as much outright, of course. At most, they offered careful mentions of Sir Leon's good reputation or his recent service, then watched as if trying to sound out how Scarlett reacted. Scarlett didn't bother indulging those attempts.

Political marriages and romantic prospects were about as far from her mind as they could possibly be at this moment. She wasn't even sure whether Leon was in attendance today. She had spotted other members of the Imperial Solar Knights standing guard around the garden, but Leon hadn't been among them.

She was in the middle of a conversation with an older baron from a smaller fief near Farmire, discussing some of the relief measures the Shields Guild had helped organise alongside imperial forces and resources supplied from the Hartford barony, when a gruff voice sounded from behind her.

"Baroness Hartford." Scarlett turned to see a heavyset man approaching, dressed in black velvet trimmed with gold, his neck-length dark hair streaked with white at the sides. His weathered face bore a thin moustache, and he leaned on a polished cane as he walked with a stiff, uneven gait. Duke Ingomar Valentino of Bridgespell.

"Your Grace," Scarlett said. Her gaze then shifted to the young man walking beside the duke.

"The empire's burgeoning sun graces us with his presence. Greetings, Your Highness." The crown prince studied her, clad in a fitted red-and-blue uniform with golden pauldrons, his bright blond hair swept neatly to one side. Behind him stood Dame Iyana 'The Frigid' Webb, Second Sword of the Empire, wearing the resplendent gold-white armour of the Royal Guard and an impassive expression as her cool eyes passed over Scarlett and the baron next to her.

Scarlett had already seen the crown prince moving through the terraces earlier, so she wasn't particularly surprised that these two had ended up approaching her. The prince was essentially the public face of the imperial family during the morning reception, since the emperor wasn't attending this part of the day. The prince was known as a fairly gracious young man who often made a point of speaking even with minor nobles during events like this, if only briefly.

As for Duke Valentino, Scarlett had dealt with him several times before, and he was also among the nobles Lady Withersworth had visited over the last few days. He was probably the most influential of the bunch, too. Lady Withersworth had remarked that, for all the grumblings the duke seemed to have about Scarlett as a person, he still appeared to hold a considerable measure of respect for her. Scarlett had originally heard that Duke Valentino had no intention of attending today's celebration, though.

He had been among those who thought holding any sort of 'celebration' during the current situation was in poor taste, so she was curious about what had made him change his mind. He was a loyalist, so she assumed it had something to do with the emperor.

"Baroness Hartford," the crown prince said.

"It has been some time since we last spoke."

"That it has, Your Highness. As always, it is an honour to be in your presence."

"Mm." The man gave her a polite nod, then turned to the older baron Scarlett had been speaking with.

"Baron Remington. I believe we spoke during the Proclamation."

"We did, Your Highness." The older man bowed.

"I am honoured that you remember me." Scarlett watched as the crown prince exchanged a few pleasantries with the baron, then offered a few words to her as well. He thanked her on behalf of his father for the efforts and resources she had put towards helping the empire manage the current crisis. Given that he was here with the duke, Scarlett assumed he had some awareness of what her being here today meant.

But she wondered whether he actually knew all of it, because his interest in her didn't feel especially pointed. He wasn't dismissive exactly—it was already generous of him to greet them like this—but she got the sense that he was ticking off a box because someone had given him the impression that he should. Perhaps he still had some growing to do in his role. From what Scarlett had heard, the crown prince was capable enough and generally well-liked.

But she had also gathered from Lady Withersworth and others that many of the people who supported the emperor and his heir wanted the prince to have more time to properly settle into the duties that would one day become his. Compared to his father, he supposedly had too much of a streak of impatience in him. Perhaps it stemmed from the fact that Regina, his younger sister, had backed him so much throughout the years that she had inadvertently taken many of the opportunities that would have helped him develop.

Not that Scarlett was convinced Regina was much more suited for ruling at the moment. The first princess reminded Scarlett a little of Evelyne in that she was clearly very skilled at administrative duties and the like, but she also carried a certain immaturity and naivety that she was only now growing out of. The crown prince didn't linger for long before offering his goodbyes and moving on to a group of nobles gathered beside a statue a short distance away.

Baron Remington soon took his leave as well after excusing himself. That left Scarlett standing alone with Duke Valentino, while Dame Iyana remained nearby, her attention still fixed on the crown prince.

"Hmph." The duke tugged at the corner of his moustache with two fingers, tapping his cane once against the polished stone floor.

"Were you aware that you frustrate me, Baroness?" Scarlett glanced at him.

"And why is that?"

"I simply don't like your manner. You would be much more agreeable if you weren't such an upstart."

"I am afraid there is very little I can do to correct that. It is part of who I am."

"I am aware." The man huffed, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening.

"Lila has made no shortage of arguments on your behalf. You will have my support today, but it is in recognition of your achievements, not out of fondness. Don't expect me to keep handing you favours for free. I repaid my debt when I helped you wriggle out of your troubles during the Conclave." Scarlett's gaze stayed on him, then she turned her attention forward.

"Noted."

"Good." The man gave a curt nod, adjusted the belt beneath his coat, and left, his cane clicking against the stone as he crossed the terrace and returned to the crown prince's side. Dame Iyana was still standing only a few steps away.

"Do you mind if I ask a question?" the woman said after several seconds of silence. Her voice was entirely even, as if she were asking about the weather, and her eyes never left the crown prince.

"Feel free," Scarlett replied.

"Don't you get tired of it?" Scarlett considered the woman.

"Tired of what?"

"The circling. All the little courtesies and pointless decorum these people demand."

"Ah, I see." Scarlett looked back out over the garden.

"Then yes, I do get tired of it."

"I thought so."

"And you?"

"I do," Iyana said.

"But I rarely have to bother with it myself."

"That is a privilege I envy. Perhaps my life would have been easier had I established myself as one of the empire's Swords rather than followed the path I currently walk."

"I don't think the position would have suited you."

"No. I suppose it would not." The two of them watched the crown prince continue his conversation. Scarlett had only spoken with Dame Iyana on two previous occasions, but she found that she rather liked the woman. She was blunt in a refreshing sort of way. Iyana was the one to break the silence again after some time.

"Do you believe in fate?" Scarlett paused.

"Why do you ask?"

"The last time we attended an event like this, it ended with a battle against the Tribe of Sin's minions. I'm wondering how likely that is to happen again." Scarlett let out a light chuckle.

"Are you perhaps suggesting that I am an ill omen of some sort?" The knight was quiet for a moment, then shrugged.

"Perhaps."

"I have to admit that I sometimes wonder if that might be the case." Scarlett shook her head.

"To answer your question, no, I do not believe in fate. But were it to exist, I suppose it would be my role to fight against it to the fullest degree that I can."

"I see. Let's hope that won't be necessary."

"Let us." Iyana took her leave once the crown prince finished his conversation and moved on to another terrace. Scarlett then returned to the tedious rhythm of socialising. More people kept arriving in slow waves, so she didn't run out of hands to greet or conversations to endure, even if she would have preferred to. She kept it up until a minor stir drew her attention to one of the side entrances, where a group in the robes of the Followers of Ittar had arrived together.

Several wore the masks that marked them as deacons. Their exact identities weren't obvious at a glance, but Scarlett thought she recognised Deacon Solnate's figure among them, as well as another shape that looked distantly familiar. She did have business with them, but she didn't move to approach. Not yet. Instead, she kept to her circuit until she eventually found a moment alone on one of the higher terraces overlooking most of the garden.

A broad-leafed tree spread its shadow over the marble balustrade, and Scarlett stood beneath it with a glass of citrus wine in hand, watching the crowd below. A set of soft steps approached beside her. Scarlett glanced at the robed figure who stopped near the balustrade, their face hidden behind a gold mask. She arched a brow.

"It is rare to see you actually observe proper protocol and wear a mask," she said.

"I did consider forgoing it," Raimond's voice sounded out.

"Alas, I would have attracted far too much attention."

"As I am sure you are not doing now."

"What I am doing now is lending our formidable baroness an air of extra mystery. Who is the masked priest she's speaking with, they'll ask themselves. What secrets pass between them? Is it scandal? Prophecy? A deeply moving discussion about fruit wine?"

"If you say so." The man leaned against the balustrade.

"If a humble servant of Ittar may ask, have you paid a certain someone a visit since our last chat?" Scarlett focused her attention forward.

"I have not."

"…You haven't?" She could hear the surprise through the mask.

"No. But do not worry. I intend to now." That was why she had wanted to get as much of the required socialising out of the way early. Since Raimond had approached her, she supposed it was about time she paid the Augur a quick visit.